The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-03-10
The Dependent Pension
Bill.
Remarks af Mr. 0uihwsi!a on the Pro
position 20 Garry i:,e Measure
oTer The Presidents Veto.

Oar Congressman, Mr. Outh-
waite WAS given five minntes o.
time to discuss the question of rar
rvinu The -Depantient Pen sion bill
over he Presidents veto.
From the Congressional Record
we reproduce his remarks:
hIr. Cuth waite. Mr.. Speaker,
upon the passage of ;hl. bill | vot-
cd in favor of it. | shall today re
verse that action, and | deem il
proper upon this occasion TO state
what are sufficient reasons for my
course. l might say that the roas-
ons which have been given by the
President of the United States are
in themselves sufficient to justify
any lover of his country in voting
today against this bill. Bat. in ad
dition TO those reasons, propose TO
point out in this bill proposition
which, If enacted into law, would
work gross injustice to many men
who were the defenders Of our
country IN the time OF its peril.
This bill. SIS las already hesn
shown, makes 10 d:stinct,sn what
ever between deserving poverty and
uEdescrving poverty. 1t does re-
quire that these pensioners shall be
suffering from meninl or physical
disability, not the result of their
own vicious habits or gross care
lessnesS, which incapaciates them
from labor but it makes no dis
tinction between the economical
poor and those who are dependent
because of their own vicious habits
or gross carelessness.
But there is a more serious obiec-
ton to the bill. 1 find in the veto
message of the President this state
ment:
"On the S0th day of juno. 1886.
there was on the pension rolls 20a
62l persons. who were receiving
fifty eight differcat rates of pension.
from 81 TO s11.7j per mcnth. s.
Then comes a statement of the
numbers receiving these different
pensions. According to the con-
slructlon placed upon this bill by
the Committee on Invalid Pensions
in their report TO this House, those
coz .0G0 men can not receive The
benefits OF this bill, because thcy
are not totally disabled. None of
them are to be entitled to the ben
eiits of this measure, although ev>
cry one of them before being plac-
ed upon the pension roll must have
proved that the injury received or
contracted by him was in
CURED in the service of the Army
and in the line of duty. say the
provisions of the bill make disiinc
ton against those 100000 honorable
soldiers drawing pensions as re
wards Tor their valor, and not as
charity.
Mr. Cannon. Docs the gentle
men agree with tho President touch
ing that matter, or With tie CON-
Mr.. Cultivate. / accept the con-
of the committee, and I
say upon that construction these
TWO hundred thousand men are ex-
,luded from the benefits of this
measure.
Mr.. Cannon. But tho President
vetoed it because he says they arc
not excluded.
The Speaker. Does the gentle
man from Ohio Nj. Cultivate
vields
Mr. Cultivate. Not for any
further interruption. Dir. Speak
n. | have received many communi-
sations from Grand Army men and
rom Grand Army posts. One, il
particular, is headed limited States
var claim agent" and is signed by
he "war claim agent" as adjutant
,f the post.
Here the hammer fell.
Mr. Grosvenor. l would like to
lsk my colleague Mr.. Outhwaito
/ question.
The Speaker. The gentleman's
ime has expired.
Mr.. Grosycnor. Can / not be
allowed a mirute to ask the gentle
nan question.
Mr.. Outhwalte. I would be glad
% hear and answer If l had the
line.
we are pleased aud proad to re-
mark that Mr.. Ouihwaite's course
las been manly, democratic and
light. We regret that he did no
ave the opportunity TO measure
words with General Grosvenor.-
rhe Athcnlen warrior would have
,een carried from the lists on a
tretcher.